IOWA CITY, Iowa - Senior Madyson Morse and sophomore Eva Reyes combined to sweep Valley Swimmer and Diver of the Year honors as the 2023 MVC Swimming and Diving championships came to a close Saturday night in Iowa City. As a team the Redbirds posted a third-place finish, earned five gold medals, five silver medals and one bronze medal.
"I am so proud of this team and staff. No championship meet is ever perfect, and this one had its ups and downs. Throughout it all this group fought together and had more fun together than I have ever seen," head coach Caitlin Hamilton said.
"Every person on deck and in the stands played a huge role in the team outcome. They displayed our core value of family perfectly. The buy in from this group has been strong all year, and the parent support truly amazing."
"I want to congratulate Madyson for her Swimmer of the Year award, and Eva for her Diver of the Year award. Both are so deserving and should enjoy every moment. Those two athletes do not walk away with the meet they had without Sean and Dallas. Thank you both for your passion, drive and commitment to this team."
Morse is the fourth Redbird to win Valley Swimmer of the Year honors and the second in head coach Caitlin Hamilton's tenure. She joins an elite list of Christine Sudlow (1996), Julie Cocks (2004) and Kierston Farley-Sepe (2020). After titles in the 200-yard IM and 100-yard breaststroke earlier this week, she rounded out an historic performance in Iowa City with a title in the 200-yard breaststroke. She set a school record of 2:15.34 in the prelims Saturday before crushing that mark with a Valley Championship record 2:11.58 in the finals.
Morse won three gold medals, set a 100 Breast MVC record, broke the 200 Breast MVC Championship record, and contributed to four relay silver medals for the Redbirds at the 2023 Valley Championships.
Reyes earned First Team All-MVC honors with a bronze medal score of 269.28 in the 3M Dive. The performance came on the heels of her second consecutive 1M Diving title earlier in the week. She has earned First-Team All-MVC honors in 1M and 3M in both of her appearances at the Valley Championships.
It marks the 12th time that a Redbird has won Valley Diver of the Year and the third time over the last five seasons. Former Redbird Caroline Lecoeur earned Valley Diver of the Year honors in 2019 and 2021.
Illinois State is the first team since Southern Illinois in 2010 to sweep Valley Diver and Swimmer of the Year honors. Additionally, it is the third time in program history the Redbirds have swept Valley Diver and Swimmer of the Year Awards and the first time since 2004. Cocks won Swimmer of the Year and Krystal Featherston earned Diver of the Year honors that year for Illinois State. In 1996, Christine Sudlow won Diver of the Year honors and Monica Torres was named Valley Swimmer of the Year.
Other Highlights
- The Redbird Relays closed out strong meet, earning a fifth school record and fourth silver medal. Morse, Olivia Gonder, Mia Snow and Emma Feltzer went 3:21.21 in the 400 Free Relay.
- Junior Cassidy Carey set a new school mark of 2:00.16 in the 200-yard backstroke prelims en route to an All-Valley Honorable mention selection.
- Seniors Isabel Veliz (200 Back) and Lauren Naeger (200 Fly) as well as sophomore Lauren Wisdom (1650-yard Freestyle) also earned All-Valley Honorable Mention honors.
